We all started out taking baby steps in our lives. At first we learned to walk, then we took small steps again while learning how to ride a bike and roller skate. Little by little we mastered our goals by perservering. But what do you do when suddenly your skills are taken from you? What if suddenly you lost your abilty to trust people, or lack the self confidence to believe in yourself anymore. This is what most sexual abuse survivors are forced to deal wtih...their ability is gone.I can only imagine the strength that it takes for a survivor to get out of bed each day knowing that they would have to face the world. I give them a lot of credit. Each morning they put their feet on the floor and take another step towards their recovery. Maybe today will be the day that they feel safe enough to step out of their home for the first time since the attack. Maybe today they will put their tissues away because they have stopped crying.Maybe today will be the day that they tell their secret so that they no longer feel alone. They are all steps in the right direction, and must be taken at one's own pace. Recovery is a process. When you were learning to walk, you fell down and cried, but you picked yourself up and tried again. Survivors struggle with this every day. It takes time, patience, and determination. It may take some survivors years before they can mentally step towards their future without letting the past dictate their lives, but each step that they take should be applauded.

Author

I have the privilege of being able to shape the minds and lives of children who are battling disabilities. It can be very trying at times, but more often than not it is very rewarding. As a mother of a child with a disability, I know the struggles that they go through on a daily basis. This allows me to have a little more compassion for the people that I work with.